Born premature and scuba?

[Cafka]

Hey guys,
My girlfriend and I are getting into scuba diving. Our first class in in two weeks. I do have one concern and all the dive shops are closed now, so i turn to you.
My girlfriend was born premature and I guess her lungs developed last. Has anybody heard of people that are unable to scuba dive because of being born premature?
I suppose it varies on the person, but i hope that this is a really rare thing.

Thanks for any input,
Cafka

 

[scubasean]

My understanding is that everyone's lungs develop last....

My understanding is that the reason physicians pay attention to preemies and their lungs is because lungs get most of their development in the last several weeks of gestation...I'm not a doc, and you should consult one if you need to know of this for sure.

Why would she need to be cleared any more than anyone else who is contemplating diving scuba?

Unless she has medical ailments that cause her to honestly answer a question that leads to a conclusion that medical examination is required, I see no requirement to see a physician.

But, if she wants peace of mind, go for it.

I was born premature by five weeks many years ago, and dive just fine.

I've sent a pm to the mods to ask that they move this to the medical forums, so the docs can weigh in, so we'll get the right info.

I'd like to know about this also, if there really is a concern...PADI doesn't ask if folks are premature, and they seem risk averse, so I doubt (absent other medical issues) its an issue.

 

[DocVikingo]

There are abnormalities of the lung that can develop due to prematurity. Prominent among these is a condition that is associated with placement of an infant on mechanical ventilation and exposure to prolonged high concentrations of oxygen. This treatment can cause problems in other organs as well, such as the heart.

Clinically significant changes in lung tissue/function thought to be brought on by this treatment typically substantially resolve with weaning from the procedure & normal maturation. But, there can be lasting effects on lung structures.

An adult with no worrisome anatomical findings such as abnormal air spaces in the lung, or recent history suggestive of compromise of lung function such as shortness of breath or inability to engage in normal degrees of physical exercise without undue fatigue, likely would be found fit to dive.

Lung imaging and pulmonary function tests can rule out contraindications to scuba. A pulmonologist, preferably one with some knowledge of diving medicine, is the appropriate specialist to contact.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[scubasean]

DocVikingo once bubbled...
There are abnormalities of the lung that can develop due to prematurity. Prominent among these is a condition that is associated with placement of an infant on mechanical ventilation and exposure to prolonged high concentrations of oxygen. This treatment can cause problems in other organs as well, such as the heart.

Hey doc....

Are the mechanical ventilation and oxygen aspects of your first statement here linked? In other words, does the condition show up with normal respiration that takes place in a high oxygen atmosphere but where no mechanical ventilation is needed?

And, it seems that this is most important to pay attention to during final stages of development of the organs...True? (As an example, would it be as important to pay attention to in a 6 month old child who is placed on a higher than normal percentage of oxygen by mask for a day or two?)

Just curious...

 

[String]

I was born very premature and underweight and spent the next 3 months in intensive care.

I scuba dive without any problems what so ever.

 

[Cafka]

She doesn't have any shortness of breath or any other medical problems. But she was telling me that her aunt wanted to get into diving but they wouldn't let her possibly because she was born premature. There's definitely more behind it than we know.
But thanks everyone for the great replies.

 

[DocVikingo]

"Are the mechanical ventilation and oxygen aspects of your first statement here linked? In other words, does the condition show up with normal respiration that takes place in a high oxygen atmosphere but where no mechanical ventilation is needed?"

This is far from my area of expertise, but let me take a shot at your questions.

Some preemies require only oxygen delivered by nasal cannula (small tubes), others require respiratory support with oxygen, and the most compromised require positive pressure breathing support, (e.g., tracheotomy) with oxygen.

As I understand it, it is theorized that both the barotrauma caused by assisted respiration and the toxic effects of high concentrations of oxygen contribute to the structural damage to lung tissue. Modern medicine endeavors to keep mechanical assistance as gentle as possible, oxygen concentrations as low as possible, and the course of support as short as possible.

"And, it seems that this is most important to pay attention to during final stages of development of the organs...True? (As an example, would it be as important to pay attention to in a 6 month old child who is placed on a higher than normal percentage of oxygen by mask for a day or two?)"

I don't believe that placing an infant on oxygen for a day or two is likely to result in any severe or lasting damage.

Hopefully I'm somewhere in the ball park here.

DocVikingo

 

[DocVikingo]

"There's definitely more behind it than we know."

So what are your girlfriend's plans for scuba given all the great replies that you've received?

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[billboardbob200]

my question response is that the concern is the development of pneumothorax. My understanding is that a person who has had a pneumothorax may be predisposed to developing another. Is this still a concern if one develops a pneumo at premature birth due to a lack of surfactant v.s. an asthmatic who hyperinflates and bursts a bleb?

 

[Cafka]

Yes she is still going to go through with it. She's really looking forward to it.